• 13 Jan 2022, 4 p.m., Zoom, (on-line), Book tickets

The advancement of digital instruments has seen the potential of music progress further and further, managing to match the capabilities of acoustic instruments, but also having the innate flexibility to achieve things which are simply impossible for acoustic instruments. At the same time, the potential of digital instruments is not only reserved to musical experiments but helps give disabled people a new avenue in which they can creatively engage with music, thanks in part to the potential for accessibility and bespoke shaping to fit the needs of each individual artist.

Drake Music Scotland in collaboration with the Disabled Artist Network and New Music Scotland are offering a specialised workshop which not only explore the physical capabilities of these new inquisitive instruments, but also consider the wider implications for disabled artists across the board. This is an ideal session for those who already explore digital instruments, who work with disabled people, are disabled, or eager to explore this new field and make new discoveries.

This workshop is being held in conjunction with Echoes, a concert featuring disabled composers' work performed by Drake Music Scotland musicians and the Hebrides Ensemble. The concert will take place on 14th June, 7pm.

The session will have the follow access support:

• The workshop will be blended, so you can view in person or in the comfort of your home
• The workshop will be captioned and audio-described

If you any other access requirements, do not hesitate to contact us, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

The workshop is in conjunction with the Drake Music Scotland and Hebrides concert concert on Saturday 12 February. The event fee includes the workshop and a concert ticket. Ben Lunn is a composer and conductor who has used his music-making to address many issues within the arts for working class and disabled people. He is the founder of the Disabled Artist Network, an organisation to promote and support disabled artists. He is also the chair of the North Lanarkshire Trades Council, member of the Musician’s Union’s Equalities Committee, and a member of the TUC’s Disabled Worker’s Committee. He has delivered lectures internationally, including Fordham University, IRCAM, Amsterdam Conservatoire, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and the Mozarteum Salzburg. He also contributed a chapter to the new Policy Press book ‘Lived Experience of Ableism in Academia’. Ben is also the Classical Music writer for the people’s daily – The Morning Star.

Pete Sparkes was appointed as Artistic Director in December 2009. He joined the team at Drake Music Scotland as a freelance associate musician in 2005, leading projects in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling. In 2007 he was appointed as Education & Training Officer and spent a busy few years training teachers and musicians to use music technology in a variety of different settings. He is completely convinced that making music is fun, good for us in many ways, and we should be doing more of it – all of us! He was Education Officer of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra from 2002-2005. As a freelance project leader he has led creative projects with many different participant groups for various organisations including: Drake Music Scotland, Scottish Book Trust, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Artlink Central, and Jessie’s Fund.

Drake Music Scotland Founded in Scotland in 1997, our vision is to transform people’s lives through the power of music. We play a lead role in making Scotland a place where ground-breaking new music featuring skilled musicians and composers with disabilities comes alive for everyone. We reshape the definition of musicians, musical instruments and ensembles, building momentum as the country’s centre of expertise in inclusive music technologies and as an innovator on the international stage.